The Mystery Of The Move: H202

When Da Boyz and I moved into our new digs in 2008, the transition brought to light several mysteries.

For example, how is it that two months before the move, all necessary preparations appeared in place for the three of us to become independently-housed individuals on leaving our previous home, yet when I awaken on D-Day+1, I gazed upon my two offspring (or dead-on duplicates placed here for unspecified reasons by an alien race), who seem to believe they shared my new address?

A related mystery is the spectacular disappearance of Mesomorph’s residence he was to share with roommates, a location and plan both said to be rock solid less than two weeks earlier – the time at which I rented our current abode, a house that would be a tad tight but serviceable for Prodigal and me. The day before the move, Mesomorph’s much alluded-to 3-bedroom townhouse, along with the two prospective roommates, dissipated before my eyes, a feat which has precisely the credibility if not the hype of a Doug Henning-level vanishing stunt,

The preceding mystery does at least explain the enigma of why the movers identified one room in the new place as the “office-exercise area-storage closet-futon room.”

Of course, the all-encompassing Blessing of Progeny explains all of the above and far, far more. It does not, however, provide a solution to …

The Riddle Of The Spontaneously Self-replenishing Bottles Of Hydrogen Peroxide

In the course of the move, I uncovered no less than nine bottles of hydrogen peroxide in various sizes, all of which had been opened and all of which were at least 90% full.

That seems like a lot of hydrogen peroxide, especially given that the last time I recall using that household chemical was to cleanse a wound caused by a bicycle accident I suffered at age 8 and that I am certain I have never personally purchased a bottle of hydrogen peroxide in my life.

Further, all nine bottles were discovered within the master bedroom and bathroom area, rendering my fall-back hypothesis for all local weirdness – i.e., the kids did it – unlikely since they rarely trespass in that sanctified area.

I can only suppose Julie – who had died almost nine years prior to the move – bought them, although she was hardly the hoarding sort. And why hadn’t I noticed this reservoir of hydrogen peroxide before? And, in any case, why hoard hydrogen peroxide?

Potential Explanations

I checked Wikipedia,for potential uses of hydrogen peroxide that might, in turn, suggest the reasons we had somehow accumulated this lifetime supply of the stuff and found, among pages of possible ways hydrogen peroxide can be put into service, that

3% H2O2 is effective at treating fresh (red) blood-stains in clothing and on other items. It must be applied to clothing before blood stains can be accidentally “set” with heated water. Cold water and soap are then used to remove the peroxide treated blood.

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has classified hydrogen peroxide as a Low Regulatory Priority (LRP) drug for use in controlling fungus on fish and fish eggs.

Some gardeners and users of hydroponics advocate the use of hydrogen peroxide in watering solutions. They claim that its spontaneous decomposition releases oxygen that enhances a plant’s root development and helps to treat root rot (cellular root death due to lack of oxygen).

Laboratory tests conducted by fish culturists in recent years have demonstrated that common household hydrogen peroxide can be used safely to provide oxygen for small fish.

Hydrogen peroxide is a strong oxidizer effective in controlling sulfide and organic related odors in wastewater collection and treatment systems.

Mixed with baking soda and a small amount of hand soap, hydrogen peroxide is effective at removing skunk odor.

Hydrogen peroxide is used with phenyl oxalate ester and an appropriate dye in glow sticks as an oxidizing agent.

Hydrogen peroxide can be made to expand into a messy, massive foamy sort of sludge that apparently emits gases that stimulate raucous laughter in any victims downwind.

The answer became obvious once I found that high test hydrogen peroxide is used as a propellant in, for example, satellite thrusters and jet packs

Julie and Jet-packs – it’s a perfect fit.

Julie Showalter

Julie Showalter was the fiercely intelligent, sexy, and loving woman with whom I had a outrageously wonderful marriage that ended with her death in late 1999 from cancer diagnosed the week of our wedding nearly 20 years earlier. She was also a brilliant scholar, the mother of our two sons, and a prize-winning author. Many posts on this blog are about her and still others consist of her writings. Julie’s Story is the account of our unlikely romance, Information can be found at Julie Showalter FAQ.